As the Philadelphia Phillies try to turn the page from an embarrassing 9-1 loss at the hands of the Washington Nationals last evening, the Phillies are now tasked with trying to win the final two games of the season as they attempt to wrestle home field advantage away from the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the start of postseason play.
Those plans may have become even more complicated with news first reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber that outfielder Austin Hays is experiencing back soreness and has been scratched from Saturday's lineup only days removed from being activated from the 10-day IL due to a serious kidney infection. The 29-year-old has only appeared in 22 games in a Phillies uniform since being acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in July due to a myriad of health issues.
Austin Hays has a sore back and is getting checked out, Rob Thomson said Also, Johan Rojas is sick and stayed in Philadelphia. The #Phillies are hoping he’ll feel better and join them here in DC tomorrow.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) September 28, 2024
When healthy, Hays has produced a stat line of .256, with 20 hits, two home runs and six RBI since being acquired in July, allowing manager Rob Thomson to shift left-handed hitting Brandon Marsh to center field in place of light-hitting rookie outfielder Johan Rojas. This platoon option showed a lot of promise before Hays was hospitalized with a kidney infection earlier this month and the team was forced to rely on help from Triple-A roster additions Weston Wilson and Cal Stevenson for much of the last four weeks. No further updates to Hays' status have been provided.
Johan Rojas remains sidelined with an illness
With Austin Hays not available to play in Saturday's game, it was also reported that Rojas remained in Philadelphia due to an undisclosed illness and could be shut down for the remaining two games of the regular season. The timing of Hays and Rojas being out of the lineup couldn't have come at a less opportune time as the Phillies continue to try to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Wilson will make the start in left field in Hays' absence and Marsh will shift over to center on Saturday. The lack of depth available to manager Rob Thomson means that Marsh will make a start against left-handed pitcher Mackenzie Gore, with Marsh only batting .200 in 75 at-bats, including 33 strikeouts on the season when facing southpaws.